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A back link that is 20 CSS pixels tall is smaller than WCAG 2.2’s default target size for Level AA: 24 by 24 CSS pixels. But height alone does not determine whether it passes. The spacing exception looks at an imaginary 24-pixel-diameter circle centered on the target’s bounding box and whether that circle intersects neighboring targets. Some inline text links are also excepted, depending on their context.
What does WCAG 2.2 require for a back link?
Success Criterion 2.5.8, Target Size (Minimum), is a Level AA criterion. It says pointer targets should be at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels unless an exception applies. A 20px-high link is below that default in one dimension, but that fact by itself does not establish a failure or a pass. The rule applies to the pointer target—the area that responds to the pointer—not simply to the text’s font size or a CSS height value.
WCAG 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation on 5 October 2023. The 24px measurements are CSS pixels, not raw hardware pixels; CSS pixels are density-independent units used to describe layout. Read WCAG 2.2 SC 2.5.8 and W3C’s overview of WCAG 2.2.
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For an undersized target, the spacing exception asks whether an imaginary circle 24 CSS pixels in diameter, centered on the target’s bounding box, intersects another target or the corresponding circle for another undersized target. If it does not, the target may satisfy this exception. This is not a rule to add four pixels above and below a 20px-high link: the circle test considers the target’s bounds and the location of neighboring targets.
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Identify the target and its bounds
Inspect the clickable area as rendered, including any padding or containing element that responds to the pointer. For a non-rectangular target, first determine its bounding box; the box can extend beyond the visible shape, and its center can even lie outside a concave shape.
Check nearby targets
Center the imaginary 24px-diameter circle on the bounding box and check for intersection with other targets or circles belonging to other undersized targets. Do not judge clearance from the link’s height alone or from the visible text gap alone.
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Account for wrapped inline links
For a link that wraps across lines, W3C says to base the bounding box on how the component would appear on one line, rather than measuring only the visible fragment on one line. That can change the geometry relevant to the spacing check.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesW3C describes one sufficient technique, C42: give a containing element a minimum width and height of 24 CSS pixels so there is clearance around smaller links, such as in navigation or pagination. This is an example, not a required implementation; other approaches can meet the criterion. See W3C technique C42.
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Could the back link qualify for another exception?
Yes, but do not assume so based on the label “back link.” WCAG includes an inline exception for targets in a sentence or whose size is constrained by the line height of non-target text; links within paragraphs are a W3C example. A standalone back link in a navigation area may have a different context. Evaluate where it appears and what constrains its size.
Other SC 2.5.8 exceptions include a same-page equivalent control, target size controlled by the user agent, and essential presentation. Whether one applies depends on the actual page and control; the link’s 20px height does not answer that question.
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Is 44px the AA minimum?
No. The 24-by-24 CSS-pixel default is the Level AA requirement in SC 2.5.8. The 44-by-44 CSS-pixel target is in SC 2.5.5, Target Size (Enhanced), a separate Level AAA criterion. Do not describe 44px as WCAG 2.2’s AA minimum. See SC 2.5.5.
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What to do with a 20px back link
- Inspect the rendered pointer target, not just the text or declared link height.
- Check whether its target measures at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels.
- If it is undersized, evaluate each relevant exception, including the bounding-box circle spacing test and the inline exception.
- If the applicable exception is uncertain, enlarge the clickable area or increase clearance. A larger, easier-to-hit target can also help people with tremors, other mobility impairments, or one-handed use.
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